The WAFL home and away season wrapped up this weekend, with the finalists all delivering dominant displays across the board, and the reigning premiers Peel sending their season off with style. Meanwhile, Tyler Keitel claimed his fifth Bernie Naylor medal in a battle that went down to the wire.
Here is all the action from Round 20.
WEST COAST 9.3 (57) def by. SOUTH FREMANTLE 22.12 (144)
South Fremantle has avenged West Coast for its only loss of the season, handing them an 87-point belting at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday.
It was sheer dominance from the Bulldogs that had the result signed and sealed by half-time, the visitors taking a 69-point lead into the main break.
West Coast went on to kick six goals after half-time, as South Fremantle’s scoring slowed down, but it was enough to push the final score out to 9.3 (57) to 22.12 (144).
Bulldogs’ forward Trey Ruscoe made a last-ditch attempt at the Bernie Naylor Medal after bagging seven goals, while Brandon Donaldson kicked five.
Through the middle, Tom Blechynden (36 disposals, 7 marks) and Jake Florenca (32 disposals, 6 inside 50s) stood up brilliantly in the absence of Matt Parker, who was a late withdrawal from Saturday’s clash. Hamish Free (42 hitouts, 16 disposals) also dominated in the ruck.
West Coast’s Harley Sparks (22 disposals, 5 tackles) was its top ball winner, while Jack Petrucelle (18 disposals, 6 marks) and Darby McCarthy (18 disposals, 7 marks) also played well.
Up forward, Jack Williams was their top goalscorer with two goals.
CLAREMONT 13.11 (89) def. EAST PERTH 12.8 (80)
Claremont has claimed a bold nine-point comeback win over East Perth at Revo Fitness Stadium, setting up this weekend’s qualifying finals clash in style.
An undermanned Royals’ side gave a valiant effort and looked on track for a win until the Tigers fought their way back into the game in the second half, kicking nine goals to four.
Claremont’s regulars, Callan England (28 disposals, 6 tackles) and Bailey Rogers (23 disposals, 5 tackles), were crucial in the engine room, while son-of-a-gun Zac Mainwaring snagged three goals.
Declan Mountford (20 disposals, 2 goals) and Anthony Davis (21 disposals, 8 marks) also gave noteworthy performances for the home side.
For East Perth, Sebit Kuek (four goals) was dangerous up forward, while Zachary Raykos was outstanding with 29 disposals and two goals.
Meanwhile, Scott Jones (47 hitouts, 9 disposals) impressed in the ruck, Liam Tedesco (32 disposals, 11 marks) was the top ball winner, and Tom North (29 disposals, 4 tackles) also played well.
EAST FREMANTLE 21.13 (139) def. WEST PERTH 10.7 (67)
East Fremantle have stormed home in the lead-up to finals with a 72-point win over West Perth at the Good Grocer Park on Saturday.
The main storyline for this match was Falcon Tyler Keitel’s battle for his fifth Bernie Naylor Medal, which he claimed despite runner-up Trey Ruscoe putting up seven goals against a pitiful West Coast side.
To be named the league’s leading goal kicker once more, Keitel had to kick four goals, and he flew past this requirement and booted six goals.
But East Fremantle’s stunning performance shouldn’t go unnoticed, putting up a mammoth 21-goal effort to put an exclamation mark on their home and away season.
Tom Joyce had leather poisoning, while the usual cavalry of Kyle Baskerville, Cameron Eardley and Milan Murdock all contributed well.
But up forward, Griffin Vladich did the most damage on the scoreboard with six goals, matching Keitel.
Falcons’ stalwart Shane Nelson (31 disposals, 6 inside 50s) was outstanding in the middle, as was Kane Bevan (28 disposals, 5 tackles), while Corey Rundle (18 disposals, 11 marks) had sticky mits up forward.
Meanwhile, Josh Rotham (21 disposals, 8 marks) and Conal Lynch (22 disposals, 10 marks) put up a strong fight in a backline under siege.
PEEL THUNDER 15.15 (105) def. SWAN DISTRICTS 7.9 (51)
Reigning premiers Peel Thunder have signed off its season with a 54-point thumping of Swan Districts at Lane Group Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
While their premiership defence didn’t go to plan, with injuries and inconsistent form running rife through the squad, Peel managed to end their season on a high, while several Dockers continued putting together strong cases for an AFL run.
Docker Matthew Johnson (20 disposals, 4 marks) made it through the clash unscathed upon return from an ankle injury, while Will Brodie (29 disposals, 3 tackles) and Nathan O’Driscoll (25 disposals, 3 goals) also played well.
Ruck Liam Reidy (33 hitouts, 22 disposals) put in one last trademark strong performance, while Hugh Davies (13 disposals, 2 goals) and Jack Sears (16 disposals, 9 marks) also had good outings.
Swan Districts’ captain Jesse Turner (35 disposals, 6 inside 50s) was reliable as usual, while Aidan Clark (24 disposals, 3 tackles) also gave a solid performance.
Other notable performances belonged to Jackson McLachlan (23 disposals, 5 inside 50s), Max Chipper (17 disposals, 5 marks) and Brandon Erceg (17 disposals, 7 marks).
SUBIACO 8.5 (53) def by. PERTH 13.15 (93)
Perth have fended off Subiaco to claim a resounding 40-point victory at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Although Perth got off to a sluggish start, they quickly found their groove in the second half, where they kicked eight goals to take out this low-stakes clash ahead of their second finals series in 27 seasons.
On a day that saw several bags kicked, Perth’s Blake Schlensog added his name to the list, kicking six goals, while also racking up 25 disposals and eight marks.
But boom recruits Brandon Parfitt (40 disposals, 13 marks) and Charlie Constable (36 disposals, 8 marks) both dominated the contest in the middle and had a massive say in the result.
Austin Davis (23 disposals, 9 marks) and Matthew Taylor (21 disposals, 2 inside 50s) also played well.
For Subiaco, Greg Clark (32 disposals, 6 tackles) and Stefan Giro (32 disposals, 4 inside 50s) were equal top-disposal winners for their side, while Taj Schofield (29 disposals, 10 inside 50s) kept sending the ball inside 50.
Marlin Corbett (23 disposals, 9 marks) and Jack Mayo (22 disposals, one goal) also did their best to influence the contest, while Jordan Faraone kicked two goals.
IMAGE: Phil Hevron